Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Iron Man

Forgetting Sarah Marshall: A TV composer (Jason Segel) is dumped by his girlfriend (Kristen Bell), then runs into her at a Hawaiian resort with her new boyfriend. Bursts of comic genius make what might have been a boilerplate romantic comedy feel fresh and vital.

- Marc Savlov

Iron Man: This superhero epic stars Robert Downey Jr. as a weapons designer who retools himself as a knight in shining armor. Director Jon Favreau is a little clunky with the action scenes, but the gizmos are fun; and Downey, his brain working a mile a minute, propels the movie forward.

ARTS & CULTURE

With garage rock ambitions, remarkable chemistry and a dedication to songcraft, Bobby Hussy and Heather Sawyer’s partnership has flourished in the seven years since the Hussy was born in an east-side Madison basement.more »

A longtime staple of the Madison music scene, Jimmy Voegeli and his band, the Jimmys, have carved out an old-school Chicago blues niche fueled by horns, Hammond B-3, funk and fun. They aim to have their new CD available Aug. 7 at Live on King Street.more »

Alvin and Verlie began writing letters in 1942 when Alvin was drafted into the Army to serve in World War II. Eight years ago, their grandson — the lead singer of We Are the Willows — inherited the surviving 350 letters and wrote an album about them.more »